A WANDERFUL driver is retiring after 16 years of volunteering and her final wish is for more people to offer their services behind the wheel. Jennifer Stanley, 64, of Coach Road, Henlow, parked up the familiar yellow Whitbread Wanderbus for the last time

A WANDERFUL driver is retiring after 16 years of volunteering and her final wish is for more people to offer their services behind the wheel.

Jennifer Stanley, 64, of Coach Road, Henlow, parked up the familiar yellow Whitbread Wanderbus for the last time on Monday.

She joined the community bus service in 1989 as treasurer and started driving two years ago when she retired as exams officer and bursar at Samuel Whitbread Upper School.

The Wanderbus provides a valuable service to the community and is organised and driven by volunteers to help get local residents out and about around Bedfordshire.

Jennifer's regular routes took her to Southill and Stotfold but she was also on call to help on other services.

Jennifer is moving away to be near her family.

She said: "I will miss the Wanderbus, I've been there since its inception.

"Our passengers' conversations are sometimes very entertaining and I will miss being with all the people."

Even though Jennifer is leaving, she still cares a lot about the future of the service and is pushing for more people to join.

She said: "Volunteering for the Wanderbus is very worthwhile and you really don't need to spare much of your time.

"I enjoyed working with the people in the community and it's different every day.

"We always need more drivers and after the last appeal in The Comet we got four new volunteers, which was very good.

"But we also have two retiring at the end of the year so we still need more.